Australian ZX Users' Association
Encyclopedia
The Australian ZX Users' Association (AZUA) was an Australia
n computer
users' group established in 1981 to support users of the Sinclair ZX80
and Sinclair ZX81
computers. It closed in 1986 after producing thirty-nine issues of its magazine AZUA and the Australian Sinclair Gazette.
AZUA was the idea of David Brudenall and David Vernon and they remained the editor and assistant editor, respectively, throughout the five years of its operation. Based in Canberra
, Australia
, AZUA was a non-profit association. It originally catered solely for the ZX80 but later supported the ZX81, ZX Spectrum
and Sinclair QL
produced by Clive Sinclair
. AZUA published computer program listings, software reviews, provided technical assistance and the occasional short story. It also supported and promoted local user groups in all Australian States and Territories. The magazines became known for their quirky cartoons, all drawn by David Brudenall. Most of the content was written by David Brudenall or David Vernon, although reader contributions were readily included.
During the early 1980s it was the largest ZX user group in Australia. When the ZX Spectrum was introduced and members with the ZX computers dropped away, AZUA changed its name to the Australian Sinclair Gazette. Six editions of the Australian Sinclair Gazette were produced before AZUA ceased operations. The reason given for the closure was the increased competition from overseas magazines, Sinclair User
and ZX Computing, and the reduction in marketing of the Sinclair computers in Australia.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
users' group established in 1981 to support users of the Sinclair ZX80
Sinclair ZX80
The Sinclair ZX80 is a home computer brought to market in 1980 by Science of Cambridge Ltd. . It is notable for being the first computer available in the United Kingdom for less than a hundred pounds...
and Sinclair ZX81
Sinclair ZX81
The ZX81 was a home computer produced by Sinclair Research and manufactured in Scotland by Timex Corporation. It was launched in the United Kingdom in March 1981 as the successor to Sinclair's ZX80 and was designed to be a low-cost introduction to home computing for the general public...
computers. It closed in 1986 after producing thirty-nine issues of its magazine AZUA and the Australian Sinclair Gazette.
AZUA was the idea of David Brudenall and David Vernon and they remained the editor and assistant editor, respectively, throughout the five years of its operation. Based in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, AZUA was a non-profit association. It originally catered solely for the ZX80 but later supported the ZX81, ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
and Sinclair QL
Sinclair QL
The Sinclair QL , was a personal computer launched by Sinclair Research in 1984, as the successor to the Sinclair ZX Spectrum...
produced by Clive Sinclair
Clive Sinclair
Sir Clive Marles Sinclair is a British entrepreneur and inventor, most commonly known for his work in consumer electronics in the late 1970s and early 1980s....
. AZUA published computer program listings, software reviews, provided technical assistance and the occasional short story. It also supported and promoted local user groups in all Australian States and Territories. The magazines became known for their quirky cartoons, all drawn by David Brudenall. Most of the content was written by David Brudenall or David Vernon, although reader contributions were readily included.
During the early 1980s it was the largest ZX user group in Australia. When the ZX Spectrum was introduced and members with the ZX computers dropped away, AZUA changed its name to the Australian Sinclair Gazette. Six editions of the Australian Sinclair Gazette were produced before AZUA ceased operations. The reason given for the closure was the increased competition from overseas magazines, Sinclair User
Sinclair User
Sinclair User, often abbreviated SU, was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum...
and ZX Computing, and the reduction in marketing of the Sinclair computers in Australia.